Pot times July 20, 2005
Angels Are Crooks: Cops
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1146/a06.htmlNewshawk: Herb
Pubdate: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 ANGELS ARE CROOKS: COPS
Source: Metro (CN BC)
Copyright: Metro 2005
Contact:
vancouverletters@metronews.ca
Website: http://www.metronews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3775
Author: Jeff Hodson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm
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Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?188
(Outlaw Bikers)
Criminal Organization Label Empowers Police
In a precedent-setting move, B.C. law enforcement is publicly alleging
that the Hells Angels is a criminal organization.
The allegations come at the end of an intensive 23-month covert investigation
into the wheelings and dealings of Vancouver's notorious East End chapter -- an
investigation capped by last Friday's arrest of 17 men in twin raids on the
club's East Vancouver chapter house and satellite house in Kelowna.
"This is the first instance, in my knowledge, that the criminal
organization provision of the criminal code has been applied to the Hells Angels
in British Columbia," said RCMP Const. Cam Kowalski.
The importance of the "criminal organization" label is that it allows
Crown prosecutors to charge the men with associating with a criminal
organization -- in addition to a plethora of criminal offences.
The charge is rare and has only been prosecuted a handful of times across the
country. But, if applied successfully, would result in as many as five
additional years in prison for a serious offence.
The investigation, given the code name E-Pandora after the mythological figure
who inadvertently spewed evil into the world, was a co-operative effort by
Vancouver Police, RCMP and the province's Combined Forces Special Enforcement
Unit.
It resulted in direct indictments against four full-patch members of the East
End chapter, one against a full member of the Vancouver chapter, and one against
a full patch member of the Nomads chapter. In addition, 10 East End
associates and one hang-around member were arrested. Police are still on
the lookout for 24-year-old associate Kerry Renaud.
E-Pandora also resulted in the closure of two meth labs and the seizure of more
than 20 kilograms of methamphetamine; 20 kilograms of cocaine; 70 kilograms of
marijuana; 250 kilograms of methylamine ( an ingredient in ecstasy ); and more
than $200,000. Also seized were handguns, automatic weapons, grenades and
dynamite.
